Exchange Workshop on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples held in Banjul, The Gambia

With a view to share experiences,
synchronize efforts and further enhance collaboration between the various
regional and international mechanisms working on the rights of indigenous
peoples, the Working Group, in collaboration with IWGIA, organized a two-day Exchange
Workshop on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Between the Inter-American Commission on
Human Rights, the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights and the
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights from 5 to 6 April 2013 in
Banjul, The Gambia.

The
Workshop brought together experts from the three regions and regional
organizations, and the United Nations. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples, Prof. James Anaya, was present during the workshop and
made the keynote address. The UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights
was also represented. The UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues, Ms.
Rita Izsák, also attended the Workshop.

The
Workshop provided a platform for the exchange of experiences between the three
regional organizations and that of the UN; it also provided the opportunity for
these organs to lay down the grounds for future collaboration and cooperation,
and synchronization of their efforts in the promotion and protection of
indigenous peoples rights.

First
bi-annual meeting held in Banjul, The Gambia

The Working Group on
Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa (WGIP) held its first bi-annual
meeting for the year 2013 from 7 to 8 April 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia. During
this meeting the WGIP assessed activities undertaken during the intersession,
and mapped out activities for the next intersession period. It met with the UN
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Prof James Anaya, UN
Independent Expert on Minority Issues, Ms. Rita Izsák, and Commissioner Rafendi Djamin of the ASEAN
Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and discussed various issues of
common interest. The Working Group also met with representatives of indigenous
populations/communities from Kenya, Tanzania and DRC, and deliberated on the
situation of indigenous communities in these countries.